Dead mayflies-and
a few live ones
surround a kingfisher
(left) and a lake frog
(below). Millions of
male mayflies create a
windfall for predators,
but most consider
only living insects a
worthy snack.
To ensure that their
7,000 to 10,000 eggs
hatch safely, females
perform a "compensa
tion flight." Instead
of laying eggs near the
colonies' home site,
where the current
quickly would carry
the eggs downstream,
a luminescent cloud of
females (right) flies sev
eral miles upriver to
spawn. Eventually, fertil
ized eggs drift down to
the females' natal site
and sink to the bottom.
DEATH AND LIFE
What happens when millions
of mayflies swarm into town?
Photographer and biologist
J6zsef L. Szentpeteri tells
you inan online interview.
Also, check out more
photos of molting and
mating mayflies, or decorate
your desktop with one of
these critters at nationalgeo
graphic.com/ngm/0305.
MAYFLIES 83